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earmark
Earmark is defined as to mark or to set aside something for a specific group.
(verb)- An example of earmark is to turn down a page in a book.
- An example of earmark is to state a benefit to a group in a bill that's presented to Congress.
The definition of an earmark is a characteristic, an allocation of money in legislation, or a mark on the ear of an animal.
(noun)- The dark images and story in a noir film are an example of an earmark of that genre of film.
- A bill in Congress with a special agreement to give $10,000 to clean energy research is an example of an earmark.
- The numbered stamp on a cow in a farm is an example of an earmark.
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See earmark in Webster's New World College Dictionary
noun
- a mark or brand put on the ear of a domestic animal to show ownership
- an identifying mark or feature; characteristic; sign
transitive verb
- to mark the ears of (livestock) for identification
- to set a distinctive or informative mark upon; identify
- to set aside or reserve for a special purpose or recipient
See earmark in American Heritage Dictionary 4
noun
- An identifying feature or characteristic: a novel with all the earmarks of success.
- An identifying mark on the ear of a domestic animal.
- To reserve or set aside for a particular purpose. See Synonyms at allocate.
- To mark in an identifying or distinctive way.
- To mark the ear of (a domestic animal) for identification.
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